Cremation in the Netherlands: Ashes Home to Ukraine

In brief (30-second summary).

Cremation takes place no earlier than 36 hours after death and no later than the sixth business day. The mayor can authorize a different timeframe.
A written permit from the civil registrar (ambtenaar van de burgerlijke stand) is required. It is free of charge.
After cremation, the crematorium keeps the ashes for at least one month. Releasing the urn earlier is only possible with permission from the public prosecutor.
In 2026, the Rotterdam municipal crematorium charges €995 for an adult cremation, or €1,351.70 with a farewell hall. Source: Rotterdam tariffs 2026.
Transporting the urn to Ukraine costs from €800, with no prepayment.

Call +380 77 882 77 77 Inquire about an urn

Who Gives Consent for Cremation

The Burial and Cremation Act (Wet op de lijkbezorging) states it simply: the funeral is arranged by the person who applies for the cremation permit, or someone acting on their behalf (Article 18). This must be done in accordance with the wishes of the deceased or what their wishes most likely would have been.

A person can specify in advance and in writing how they wish to be buried or cremated: in a notarial deed or in a handwritten, dated, and signed statement (Article 19). If such a document exists, it is followed.

In practice, a relative submits the application together with a funeral director (uitvaartondernemer). Citizenship does not matter: a Ukrainian is cremated under the same rules as a Dutch citizen.

If the family is in Ukraine, traveling to the Netherlands is not required. We arrange the cremation through local partners, and you sign the power of attorney remotely. If the cremation has already taken place, we collect the ready urn from the crematorium or from the family.

Permits and Documents for Cremation

Examination of the body (lijkschouw). This is done by the attending physician or a municipal medical examiner (gemeentelijke lijkschouwer). If the death is natural, the doctor issues a medical certificate of cause of death (verklaring van overlijden).
If the doctor cannot issue this certificate, the case is referred to the public prosecutor (officier van justitie). A certificate of no objection (verklaring van geen bezwaar) from the prosecutor is then required.
A written cremation permit (verlof tot crematie) from the civil registrar at the municipality (gemeente). The permit will not be issued without the medical certificate of death or the prosecutor's statement. The permit is free of charge.
The death is recorded in a death certificate (akte van overlijden). An extract from this record is needed for the urn transport documents.

All of this is usually handled by the funeral director. Because the legal window is short, the paperwork is collected during the first few days.

How Long to Wait for Cremation

The law sets a narrow window: cremation must take place no earlier than 36 hours after death and no later than the sixth business day after death (Article 16).

If the family needs more time, for example to wait for relatives arriving from Ukraine, the mayor (burgemeester) of the municipality where the body is located can set a different deadline after consulting a doctor (Article 17). The mayor can only authorize cremation earlier than 36 hours with the agreement of the public prosecutor. The mayor's decision can be appealed within 24 hours to the King's Commissioner of the province.

Saturdays, Sundays, and evenings cost more at the Rotterdam municipal crematorium. Therefore, the day of the week also affects the chosen date.

How Much Cremation Costs in the Netherlands

Each crematorium sets its own prices. Here is an example from the Rotterdam municipal crematorium (Uitvaart 010), 2026 rates:

Service	Price
Cremation (age 12 and over), with 30 minutes in the hall and 30 minutes for condolences	€1,351.70
Cremation (age 12 and over) without a hall	€995.00
Surcharge for Saturday cremation	€540.00
Surcharge for Sunday or evening after 18:00	€1,082.20
Taking an adult's ashes home	€113.50
Processing a prosecutor's permit for early release of ashes	€41.30

Source: Uitvaart 010 (Rotterdam) tariffs 2026

Private crematoriums have their own rates. The funeral director is paid separately for transporting the body, the coffin, and handling the paperwork.

If we arrange the cremation, we calculate the total cost for your specific situation. Transporting the urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800. There is no prepayment: you pay after the urn is handed over under our contract.

The Urn for Transport

The crematorium places the ashes into an urn (asbus) and seals it. The urn is marked with the surname and initials of the deceased and a registration number (Article 58). At a relative's request, a portion of the ashes can be handed over separately.

For air travel, it is best to use a sturdy urn that can be easily X-rayed: plastic, wood, or cardboard. Carrying an urn in cabin baggage usually requires prior approval from the airline, and it is screened by X-ray at security. We check the carrier's rules before booking a ticket.

How to Bring an Urn to Ukraine: Documents

The main rule: the crematorium keeps the urn for at least one month after cremation (Article 59). After that, it can release the urn to the relative who arranged the cremation, or ship it abroad directly. The law explicitly provides for both options. The public prosecutor can waive the one-month waiting period, but only in special cases and at the family's request.

Usually, the urn is accompanied by:

an extract from the death record;
a cremation certificate from the crematorium;
the applicant's passport or a power of attorney.

Dutch documents intended for use in Ukraine are certified with an apostille. This is issued by a district court (rechtbank). We handle the translation. The Embassy of Ukraine is located in The Hague. We provide a complete list of documents to every family.

The urn is transported by plane or by car across Europe. At the Ukrainian border, the urn goes through separate clearance; read more in customs clearance for an urn. How we work: urn transport.

Can You Transport the Urn Yourself?

Yes. After the one-month storage period, the crematorium releases the urn to the relative, and the family can then transport it on their own.

The difficulties are usually the following. Relatives from Ukraine have to travel twice: once for the cremation and again a month later to collect the urn. An airline might not approve the urn in the cabin, or the urn might not pass the X-ray scan. At the Ukrainian border, officials ask for an apostille and a translation.

Entrust the transport to us if the family cannot wait a month in the Netherlands, if the paperwork is not ready yet, or if you do not want to take risks at the airport.

Cremation vs. Body Repatriation

	Cremation and urn transport	Body repatriation
Timeframes	cremation by the 6th business day, urn released after 1 month, plus travel time	depends on documents and flights, see the country page
Documents	medical certificate of death, cremation permit, death certificate, crematorium certificate	medical certificate of death, death certificate, body transit documents
Price	urn from 800 €	see the country page

If the family wishes to bury their loved one in a coffin, read about body repatriation from the Netherlands.

Burying the Urn in Ukraine

In Ukraine, an urn can be buried in a new grave, interred in an existing family grave, or placed in a columbarium. You will need permission from the cemetery, and for a family grave, the existing plot documents. Read more in detail: urn burial. The month while the urn is kept at the crematorium gives you plenty of time to make arrangements with the cemetery.

Timeline: From the First Call to Urn Burial

Stage	Estimated time
Phone call, contract, power of attorney	1 day
Medical certificate of death, cremation permit	1–3 days
Cremation	from 36 hours up to the 6th business day
Storage of the urn at the crematorium	at least 1 month
Apostille and translation	done in parallel, 1–2 weeks
Transporting the urn to Ukraine	a few days
Urn burial	as agreed with the cemetery

These timeframes are approximate. They can be affected by decisions from the mayor or the prosecutor, or by the crematorium's schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Ukrainian citizen be cremated in the Netherlands?

Yes. The law makes no distinction based on citizenship. A medical certificate of death and a permit from the civil registrar are required.

How soon must cremation take place in the Netherlands?

No earlier than 36 hours and no later than the sixth business day after death. The mayor can authorize a different timeframe.

How much does cremation cost in the Netherlands?

It depends on the crematorium. At the Rotterdam municipal crematorium in 2026, an adult cremation costs €995 without a farewell hall, or €1,351.70 with a hall. Source: Rotterdam tariffs 2026.

When can the urn be collected?

One month after the cremation. Collecting it earlier is only possible in special cases with permission from the public prosecutor.

Can an urn be sent from the Netherlands to Ukraine?

Yes. The law explicitly allows the crematorium to ship the urn abroad or hand it over to a relative.

How much does it cost to transport an urn from the Netherlands to Ukraine?

From €800. There is no prepayment; payment is made after the urn is handed over.

What to Do Right Now

Call us right away: the legal window for cremation is only up to the sixth business day.
Tell us the city where your loved one passed away and whether a local funeral director is already involved.
Decide which family member will sign the power of attorney, and locate the deceased's passport.
Arrange a place for the urn with a cemetery in Ukraine. We will take care of the rest.

Call +380 77 882 77 77 Inquire about an urn

Our phone line is open 24/7, and we are also available on Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram.

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Cremation in the Netherlands and Transporting an Urn with Ashes to Ukraine